Dog preventic collars and toxicity
My black lab mix Abby (57 lbs., nine years old, female neutered) just got her first tick of the season. We live in rural coastal northern California. Our local ticks are the usual pests, never the disease-inducing kind. I have always put a (Preventic, I think) collar on her (bought from our vet) and it has worked wonderfully. This year we have a six-month-old baby, my granddaughter Hannah, crawling around the house and heavy into her oral phase. She and Abby are getting acquainted (a bit of tentative mutual physical contact). My daughter is terribly worried that the tick collar will poison the baby. I have noticed that for a week or so after putting it around Abby’s neck, the collar smells toxic and emits a slight powder. After that the smell declines radically and the powder disappears but it continues to work extremely well for three months or so. Is it safe around the baby at this stage (after a week)? Manually removing ticks is completely out of the question — Abby reacts violently when this is attempted, going nuts, biting hard and drawing blood. We can, of course, separate the dog and the baby, but it will be difficult and very hard emotionally on Abby, but the baby’s health comes first, of course. What do you recommend? Thank you
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Cat eating easter grass and vomiting
My cat (4yo male neutered Domestic short hair) got into some easter grass today (the green stuff that goes in easter baskets) and has been throwing it up in chunks all day. I’m very concerned about him because of the amount that he has thrown up. Also, some of the bile has been tinted red. Is this a normal reaction? Should I take him to the vet, or is it ok since he is throwing it up?
Note : Cat question from Ask A Vet. Click here for answer (answer available FREE for 24 hours after posting afterwhich you will need to pay $3.95 to view the answer). See other pet questions.
Cleaning dog teeth without anesthesia
I’ve had my vet of 15 years clean my dog’s (15yo male neutered Terrier mix) teeth every two yeasrs or so. Now that he’s 15 plus I’ve grown concerned over affects of general anesthesia.
I’ve talked with someone who does cleaning without anesthesia, and has a large practice for some years.
My vet says that doing it this way, all of the debris and blood is swallowed. Not good.
I am trying to get a trusted third opinion.
Note : Dog question from Ask A Vet. Click here for answer (answer available FREE for 24 hours after posting afterwhich you will need to pay $3.95 to view the answer). See other pet questions.